Spill

Trident Seafoods – 2nd Bowfin Fuel Spill

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined Seattle-based Trident Seafoods $30,500 for an oil spill in December 2007 that sent almost 500 gallons of fuel into the Hylebos Waterway in Commencement Bay. The spill happened while the company’s tender vessel Bowfin was tied up at Trident Seafoods’ dock in Tacoma. A Trident Seafoods engineer began transferring diesel fuel between two tanks onboard the Bowfin. It appears a small fuel line became plugged, causing diesel to run out of a tank vent, across the deck and overboard. The company found the spill the evening of Dec. 10 after a diesel smell was traced back to the Bowfin. “Spills like this have tremendous costs, both environmentally and financially, which is why Ecology places so much emphasis on prevention,” said Jim Sachet, regional Ecology spills response manager. “Based on our investigation, this spill was avoidable.” Ecology, the Coast Guard and the company responded immediately. Over the course of the response, environmental contractors hired by Trident Seafoods recovered 400 gallons of the diesel. Trident Seafoods’ policy of placing protective boom around its vessels at dock helped minimize the spread of oil and improved recovery of the spilled diesel from water. It is illegal to spill oil to state waters. Oil harms the environment, and the damage begins as soon as it hits the water

Ship Fined for Failure to Have Oil Spill Readiness Plan

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has levied an $8,500 fine to the Greek shipping firm Marmaras Navigation Co. Ltd. for operating a cargo vessel in Washington waters without a state-approved oil spill readiness plan. The penalty against Marmaras Navigation marks the first time Ecology has levied a fine under its new oil spill contingency plan rule adopted in October 2006. Ecology requires that cargo and passenger ships, tank vessels

Hearing on Oil Recovery Research & Technology Needs

The Subcommittee on Energy and Environment of the House Committee on Science and Technology conducted a hearing on Research and Technology Needs for Oil Recovery and Effective Cleanup of Oil Spills. Committee Chair Bart Gordon (D-) made an opening statement. Subcommittee Chair Brian Baird (D-) made an opening statement. Mr. Douglas Helton, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), testified that NOAA is providing scientific information regarding oil spill trajectory and

Coast Guard Conducts MI Spill Drill

Coast Guard, Response Agencies deploy equipment for oil-recovery training in Michigan waters.   Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, oil spill response organizations, Enbridge Energy Partners and several other agencies this week participated in a unique exercise out of St. Ignace, Mich., Monday through Wednesday, during which several techniques for recovering spilled oil and other hazardous materials from icy waterways were tested and

PCCI Conducts Oil Spill Response Training

PCCI, Inc. conducted oil spill management training for 18 senior executives participating in the Special American Business Internship Training Program (SABIT) on November 1, 2002. The participating executives came from oil, pipeline, and ecological companies located in Russia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan. This is the third time that PCCI has provided training for the SABIT program of the U.S. Department of Commerce. PCCI provided the visiting delegation with comprehensive training in the

Washington State – Coastal Oil Spill Response Plans

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and U.S. Coast Guard are looking for interested parties to help update the state's oil spill response strategies tailored for the Strait of Juan de Fuca and for Washington's outer coast. The existing site-specific strategies, also known as "geographic response plans," identify sensitive natural and cultural resources. The plans also help prioritize how equipment and cleanup crews should be deployed during an oil spill response.

Dalco Passage Spill

The Washington State Department of Ecology established an Internet site regarding the Dalco Passage oil spill. On October 14, approximately 1,000 gallons of oil will released by an unknown source into waters of Puget Sound. Cleanup has been completed and investigators are still searching for the source. As a result of this spill, the State and the U.S. Coast Guard have established an Oil Spill Early Action Task Force to look into ways to improve early notification procedures

Ecology Proposes Spill Prevention and Response Readiness Rules

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is seeking public comment on a set of three proposed rules designed to prevent oil spills into Washington waters and to improve response readiness. Ecology is proposing to update state rules regarding how oil will be transferred over water involving tank vessels, cargo and passenger ships, oil storage facilities, marinas and, for the first time, tank trucks and rail cars.

WA Oil Transfer Rules Protect Waters

In September 2006, state lawmakers directed Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) to adopt stringent oil transfer rules after 4,700 gallons of heavy fuel oil spilled during an oil transfer operation at Chevron-Texaco's Richmond Beach fuel terminal in December 2003. Swift currents drove the oil ashore on the Suquamish Tribe shellfish beds at Doe-kag-wats beach and salt marsh at Indianola in Kitsap County. In 2008

Coast Guard Investigates Diesel Spill

Coast Guard marine safety personnel are investigating a reported diesel fuel spill at mile marker 158 in the Lower Mississippi River, near St. James, La. Crewmembers of the tug Tom Jump, of St. Louis, Mo., were reportedly transferring fuel between compartments when approximately 950 gallons spilled into the water. Boom, which is a floating device used to contain oil, was deployed to control the spread of the product. There were no injuries reported.